If the infamously foul Phllie fans are unhappy about the Bobby Abreu trade - and they have ample reason to be - perhaps they can turn their attention to Chase Utley for a reason to smile. Utley got hits in both games of yesterday's doubleheader with the Marlins to extend his hitting streak to 31 games. The Phils beat the Marlins 11-5 in the opener behind a Mike Lieberthal grand slam and took the nightcap 9-2 as Utley's sixth-inning single snapped a 2-2 tie and started a six-run rally. Utley also added his 21st homer in the seventh inning as the Phillies turn the page with a win and, for a day anyway, a happy fanbase.
- Carlos Zambrano won again, the Cubs bright spot now has 12 victories and nine straight, as the Cubs finished a sweep of the Cardinals at Wrigley Field by a 6-3 score. Zambrano, who leads the National League in strikeouts, threw six innings and struggled with his control (five walks) but the Cards couldn't capitalize and pick up Chris Carpenter on a day when the righthander had less than his best stuff. The reigning Cy Young winner gave up six hits and five runs through four innings in his shortest outing of the year. The Cardinals reacted to the sweep by making a move to solidify their second base situation, sending utility player Hector Luna to the Indians for the beefy Ronnie Belliard.
- The Carlos Lee trade is paying dividends for the Brewers. Kevin Mench drove in each of the Milwaukee runs in Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Reds, cutting the Brewer defecit to five in the Wild Card race. Mench hit a three-run homer to put the Brewers up 4-0 and although the Reds rallied in the ninth, another of the new Crew, Francisco Cordero, slammed the door for the save. Ben Sheets looked very strong as he continues his comeback from injury, throwing eight shutout innings before Ken Griffey took him deep in the ninth. Derrick Turnbow gave up a shot to Rich Aurilla next and walked two batters which prompted the call to Cordero, who lost Texas's closer job earlier this year.
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